This post is all about creative ways you can document your travels.
Do you ever look back on your life and wish that you could relive those moments again? I always had moments where I would say to my past self “why didn’t you document your travels? Did it even happen?”
So, I thought it would be a good idea for me to share with you how you can document your travels so that you aren’t shaming your past self for doing more than you thought they should have. Let’s get into the 5 best ways you can document your travels.
This post is all about creative ways you can document your travels.
Disclaimer
This post is all my personal opinions. This content is for informational purposes only. You the reader will be reading at your own risk. I will not be held liable for any of the consequences that may come about from taking any of this advice.
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Let’s Begin.
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7 Creative Ways You Can Document Your Travels
1. Taking Pictures
I am fairly certain that almost everyone already takes pictures for memories.
I was actually one of the people that absolutely hated taking pictures. To me, it was pointless and took away from the experience.
When I was younger, my mom would want to take a picture of me everywhere we went. Where we went out to eat. In front of every new sign when we were on vacation. Almost anywhere and it really annoyed me.
Now that I am looking back on those moments, I realized that I was just being a stubborn brat and mom just wanted some way of cherishing her memories and I prevented her from doing that.
So not only was I not allowing my mom to do and get what she wants, but I also don’t have any memories for myself to look back on.
I’m sure there are a lot of things that I’ve done or been through when I was younger that I don’t remember about and wish I did.
Now that I am older, I am trying to take the initiative to say yes to more photos and even taking some of my own photos to start adding to my memory collection.
So, you should consider taking as many pictures as you can handle.
I would say think about what your future self would want to see in 5 years when they go through the pictures that you are about to take right now.
Honestly, I’m sure any picture is better than no picture.
2. Scrapbooking
Having a scrapbook would go hand in hand with taking pictures because it’s almost like a photo album but more.
A scrapbook also has little notes and designs to go with the photos. It’s a more creative way to have a photo album I should say. At least that’s how I see it.
I personally have not been keeping up with a scrapbook.
I did try to start one when I was in elementary school and added pictures of me with my friends and pictures of me when I got awards for my good grades.
There were notes that I wrote under the photos talking about what was going on in the pictures too. I think that’s about it.
I’m pretty sure I stopped working on it after about 10 pictures.
The scrapbook is probably still in the closet in my old room at my mom’s house too.
Whoops.
If you have a creative side and like organizing pictures to make it look aesthetic, adding colors and doodles all over the place, then a scrapbook may be for you.
Why not try it out?
3. Journaling
Now, a journal is more my thing if you can’t already tell with the blog.
But before I started this blog, I was writing in a plain little journal that I got at Walmart for $10.
I actually didn’t start writing down my travels until 2017 when I went to Germany. (See, I told you, my trip to Germany is literally the biggest part of who I am today.)
I had been writing to my time capsule about all of my milestones, experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
But this time, for a big 10 day trip like Germany, I thought it would be a better idea for me to keep a journal and write the events as they were happening to ensure I got every single detail that I could remember.
Starting that travel journal was such a great idea on my part and I thank my past self for that constantly.
Ever since then, every time I take a trip, I write down everything. What I see. How I’m feeling. And what my thoughts are on the places that I go.
Maybe my story sounds inspiring to you and you’d like to have that kind of tangible memory too.
And it’s easy!
You went to school all these years to perfect your writing skills (maybe). You might as well make them useful.
4. Start A Blog
I decided to add starting a blog to this list because it could be used as a way to document travels.
That’s how I plan to use my blog at least (besides posts like this one that aren’t centered around one specific travel experience.)
I would say a blog and a journal are about the same if you’re using it to document your travels besides the fact that a blog is public and could potentially turn into something more. (Monetization?)
One of the things that I like about having a blog is that I can share my experiences and thoughts with other people without shame or feeling like I’m annoying anyone.
I always want to share my experiences with people, but since I could literally talk about myself non stop, I save it all for my boyfriend and the blog to avoid driving people away (hehe I love him.)
Also, with a blog, people choose to read my content.
And since I know that they chose to read my content, I don’t feel bad about saying anything whenever anymore and it feels great.
So, if you’re like me and always have something to say, want to have it saved, AND share it for others to know about, then starting a blog would be a perfect way to do it.
5. Taking Videos
I actually tried taking videos and I realized very quickly how terrible I was at it.
I would forget to take videos of the places I went to and whenever I did, they were bad quality looking videos because of the angles, sound, and awkwardness of it.
I’m just not use to it but as of right now, it is not a priority for me to learn how.
I am satisfied with my pictures and journaling. (Although I still forget to take pictures too but taking pictures is way easier than taking videos. At least for me.)
The main reason why I tried taking videos (vlogs) to document my journey was because I saw so many travel vlogs from youtubers and got jealous that I couldn’t physically see, in action, the experiences I had in my past.
Those YouTubers make their traveling experiences look so good and memorable that I just really wanted it for me.
But the whole taking hours to edit and stuff wasn’t really for me.
Maybe, taking videos is your kind of creative outlet.
You can edit it and put together clips to make it into a whole video of the entire adventure.
You can edit the video to have texts and little animated doodles. Whatever you want.
Taking a video in my opinion is probably the best visual way to document your travels.
It’s just too much work for me to do. I’m better at writing.
6. Paper Map with Thumbtacks
I actually got this GENIUS idea from my aunt.
She used to work in a travel job so she’s gone to LOTS of different places.
In one of her house bedrooms, she has a giant picture frame with a map of all the countries and continents.
For every place that she has gone to, she places a thumbtack on that place on the map.
That’s one of the ways she documents her travels. (I don’t know how else she documents her travels.)
But I just thought this concept was pretty cool.
I don’t have one of these yet but I do plan on getting one as soon as I move out and have my own place because the frame and map that I want is gonna be HUGE. Or at least as huge as I can get it from my local Walmart or something.
If you want an easy and fun way to document your travels then you should definitely try this one out.
I don’t know how expensive this documentation will be when buying the map, frame and tools to hang it up, but I’m sure after years and years of traveling and the addition of pins, you’ll feel so accomplished looking at all the places that you’ve been to. (I also think this is one of the easiest ways to document your travels.)
7. Collectibles
Having collectibles was also a genius idea that I got from my aunt.
Everywhere she and her family goes, they buy an ornament from that location.
So when we went to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle in Europe, they bought an ornament from their gift shop. (I bought a jigsaw puzzle and have put it together at least five times now.)
Whenever I have my own place and start traveling to more new places, I’ll also start doing collectibles.
I might not do ornaments though.
I’ve been thinking about doing pins, fridge magnets, or keychains.
Then, I would set up a wall board to hang them or pin them or whatever collectible I decide to collect. They will all be mounted on the wall in some way.
If you think collectibles are your thing, then it’s definitely a great way to document your travels.
It may not tell you the full details of what happened while you were there but at least you have proof that you went and had the luxury of buying the collectible in that location.
Ending Note
Well, there you have it. Those are 7 best ways that you can document your travels.
I’m sure you can tell at this point that I am finding multiple ways to document my travels.
It doubles as backup plans for if I lose one way of documentation and as another fun activity to do every time I travel.
My main form of travel documentation is journaling because I can write while I’m on the plane, in the car, or anywhere really.
All I need is pen and paper and it’s all good.
If you have any other suggestions that I didn’t mention, please let me know in the comments below! I’d love to know about more ways to document my travels. Good day!
This post is all about creative ways you can document your travels.
Malvika says
I loved your tag line!!
Lily-Anne says
Thank you so much!!